**** reference of what a gazebo generally looks like ^^ ****

I hadn't been able to tear my eyes away from Ronnie for more than a moment since I had first spotted me. He hadn't acknowledged my presence yet, and I knew he probably wouldn't at all. I tried to be understanding but it made my heart beat painfully. He didn't want to be around me in public.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Esha gripped my arm and then I was being pulled behind a greenhouse, pushed against the wall while she held me in place with her arms.

"Oh my, I had no idea you liked me like this. You're kinda hot when you're all dominant and shit" I said, grinning slightly.

She gave me a half-smile, her eyes serious. I immediately stared at her, all joking out of my mind.

"I knew I shouldn't have come home, I'm sorry for dragging you into it." Her face was scrunched up in annoyance, like she couldn't stand being here.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on? These are some fucked up dynamics, I know dysfunctional family but shit your sister's a bit-" Her hands covered my mouth before I could let loose the string of insults.

"She gets it from my mom. I've never been as easily entitled as they are. That's why I left. We never got along. They wanted me to be some model or a housewife to some rich friend of theirs. They didn't want me to do anything worthwhile in life, I was just supposed to sit back and look pretty." Her eyes were pinched, like she was holding back tears, or holding back memories.

"So, I left. I went to college, and after that they cut off contact. Of course, then they saw me in the magazines with Andy, and they suddenly want to be back in my life. They didn't tell me, but I overheard them on the phone, they're planning something. Probably staging an intervention, that's what this party is for. They probably think he's some bad influence."

I didn't speak, only listened, and once she was done, I pulled her in for a hug. The day had passed, the sun setting low in the sky, and dozens of little lights turned on, looking like little fairies frozen in place. I resisted the urge to admire it, the way it reflected off of Esha, making her seem like an otherworldly being.

"You know how good I am at causing drama. Want me to stir up a little chaos, and then you can escape unseen?"

She looked to be seriously considering my offer. However, she didn't answer, instead she just pulled me back to the party. She let go of my hand, and I carefully slipped through the crowd to the food table.

They may be stuck up bitches, but the food looks pretty good, so I would set my pride aside and try some of it.

It's not like they made it, please, they probably haven't even touched a mixing bowl in their life. They'd be too scared to get dirty or smudge their nail polish. I'm convinced that the guys wear it too, because nobody's nails are that smooth and shiny.

I reached out to grab a bite sized pie, but my fingers brushed against someone else's hands instead of the smooth dough.

I recognized the hand immediately, the tattoos that I had memorized, the hands that used to hold me at night and keep me safe.

Ronnie.

For a moment I got lost as I stared at his face illuminated by the blue lights surrounding the yard. He looked as beautiful as ever.

I gave him a polite smile. Looks like he wasn't feeling it though, because he just looked away without a word.

I frowned, glaring at him and quickly melding back into the crowd. I started off towards the greenhouse to hide until I could calm myself.

What, did he not want to raise suspicion by simply smiling back and going on his way? He made it more suspicious by acting like a bitchy little-

My wrist was suddenly clamped in somebodies grip, and I was dragged into the fancy floral Gazebo.

I jerked my arm away from Ronnie, still glaring.

"Why are you mad? I thought you agreed to the rules-" I couldn't stand to stay quiet any longer and let him talk. I had to tell him how I felt.

"I didn't think they'd be this strict! A smile doesn't have to mean anything!" I felt like crying, and I angrily pulled at my cheeks so I could blink away the tears easily.

"Well I told you- I just. Fuck, why are you crying?" He sounded exasperated, but he put his hands on my shoulders. I wiggled them off before he could pull me in for a hug.

"I'm not, you asshole." He didn't even flinch, he just continued to stare at me.

I looked at the Gazebo to avoid staring into his eyes. There was canvas wrapped around it, making it feel like a secluded wonderland inside, with flowers coating just about every open space.

"I just don't know about this-" He looked panicked at my words, and he quickly moved to hold wooden beams behind me as if he was scared I'd run away.

I was considering it, truthfully. Everything was just so confusing, I thought it would be better once I got to be with him again, but it wasn't the same, this wasn't the same, I couldn't bear to just live like this, it was draining me, suffocating me.

"Wait, wait, what are you trying to say? That you did all of this work to get me back, and now you want to what, leave me?" His voice was strained, a hoarse whisper. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was about to cry. No, he was probably just frustrated.

"I just, I don't understand what this is anymore. I love you, but it doesn't feel right for us to do this. Sneak around behind our friends' backs? I can only see you late at night, we can't have a casual conversation in front of anyone? It's not fair, I just-"

He interrupted me, his arms flexed as he clenched his fists. I stared down at his muscles instead of looking at his eyes.

"Not fair? You want to talk about not fair, how about this, how about-"

I shoved his chest to shut him up, shaking my head in annoyance.

"I'm tired of this! If all you can do is bring up what I did in the past then why are you even here? I get it, I was a total dumbass, but I fucking did everything I could to fix it okay, what more can I do? Tell me what you want me to do, because I'm at a loss here!" I struggled to not raise my voice, as I didn't want to draw any attention to us.

"Well I'm tired of you always playing  me out to be the bad guy! I'm trying here too!" I could tell he was really upset now.

"Look, let's just cool off before anything bad happens." His voice softened, and he stepped closer to me, until I couldn't help but raise my eyes to his face, breaths away.

I licked my lips, my eyes meeting his.

"Okay, fine. But this isn't over." I don't know if he heard me, because he seemed preoccupied, moving his hands to trail down my waist before moving up to cup my face.

I leaned back against the wooden beam as he moved closer to me.

Our breath mixed together as he held his lips over mine, his eyes staring right into mine.

I felt my heart going crazy, echoing in my ears, but it felt like a distant occurrence, happening in another world. I felt tingly, like right before you go numb, and my hands were shaking at my sides.

I tilted my head up until my bottom lip brushed against his, and then he lost his composure, pressing against me and covering my lips with his, kissing me softly. He held my neck to pull me closer, and my hands, trembling from holding back, quickly latched onto his shirt. Wanting to feel more of him, I slipped my fingers through his suit jacket, feeling his warm chest beneath the button up shirt. My fingers peeked between the buttons to press into his bare skin.

"Oh, well I was going to say isn't that sweet, but you guys are looking a little infatuated right now. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your little affair. Surprised I caught you? Please, this gazebo is covered in canvas, not a wall. Everyone can see you two, your shadows are reflected on the canvas. Everyone can see you whoring around."

Ronnie jumped in surprise, and I took a step to face Esha's sister. I knew she was a bratty little bitch.

Glaring at her, I noticed the camera in her hand, probably recording everything.

"What are you doing here? So horny and alone that you have to watch other people kiss just to get a little turned on? You film little pornos on that camera, hmm?" She didn't like the way I was talking to her, but I didn't give a fuck. She ruined a special moment with Ronnie, and those were pretty rare nowadays so I did not appreciate it.

"What I'm doing is filming my latest video log for my blog. What I'm doing, is live streaming to thousands of fans all over the world, who have all seen what a slut you are." She turned the camera over to film herself, "isn't it cute, it's almost like she understands what I'm saying."

I felt like I was in a pot of boiling water, my rage - filled blood coating my body in burning swells of heat.

I took a few steps closer, clenching my fist.

"Understand this bitch." My fist clashed into her face, and, as she was already unsteady in the towering heels, she fell right out of the Gazebo, tearing through the canvas.

I stared through the hole to see the whole party looking our way.

Esha was right in the front, covering her face like she was hiding a laugh.

Well, here's the chaos that I promised, Esha.

It was all silent, as if everyone was holding their breath.

Then, there was the sound of clicking dress shoes, and a man in a white suit walked out.

He looked around in confusion, his smooth features enhanced by the dim lights. "Am I interrupting something?"